A New Circus Pony

I have such a soft spot for the Hagen Renaker Circus Ponies and have acquired quite a conga of them in my minis cabinet. 

But there's always room for one more! 

Linda Shawhan listed this HR Head Down Circus Pony (#A-267, 1956-1957) on Facebook's Clinky Classifieds for $35 plus shipping.  It had no breaks or chips and Linda (a friend) was asking a very fair price for it.

His paint job is pretty average - notice that the hooves are not completely painted gold as they should be. That's common in this piece as well as with the Head Up version. 

You can see the hoof difference in this photo of the new Circus Pony when compared with my first piece in the same color. That first piece also has the scalloped harness and bridle, and if you look closely, a red dot on the bridle where the noseband meets the headstall. Neither of the other two have that detail.

My second piece (in the middle) does not have the scalloped harness, but his hooves have a better paint job than the new one.

My new piece's upper eyelid line extends on both sides of his eye, unlike the other two. I really like his eye.

He is now in the minis cabinet with the rest of my Circus Ponies and a very welcome addition to my conga. 

The Palomino Metlox Poppytrail Circus Pony

For years I drooled over the one, single photo I had found of the white Metlox Poppytrail Circus Pony.

Photo taken from Google Images, owner unknown.

It was so charming and saucy, and due to my own personal love of circus ponies, I wanted to add it to my collection.

I did numerous online searches, scoured antique and thrift shops, and kept my eyes peeled for years with no success. Susan Bensema Young even tried her own quiet search without my knowledge, wanting to find one for me as a surprise gift.

But no luck. At least, not until last May when Heather Wells and friends held Clinky Mania in California, selling the late Karen Grimm's collection. As I looked over the photos before the sale, there was a white circus pony! And to my great surprise, a palomino one, too! (Go here to see photos of the Black Horse Ranch Metlox Poppytrail pieces.) Someone had once mentioned that they thought that there was a palomino, but never in all my online and other searches, had I seen any photos to confirm that rumor. Now I knew that the palomino version did indeed exist.

Unfortunately for me, the BHR circus ponies were not available and my search was still on. Only now I was looking for both the white and the palomino.

As I wrote yesterday, I found and bought both pieces recently. Here is the beautiful palomino.

Palomino Metlox Poppytrail medium Circus Pony, $500, #684, eBay, 4/2019, Rich Matthews, 3005 Wedge Ct., Matthews, NC 28104.

Under its belly it has the Metlox seal, but it does not have the Metlox Poppytrail sticker on its shoulder that its counterpart does.  I love the contrast of the cream colored mane with its dark palomino coat!

I still cannot believe that I have finally, after decades of looking, found these two pieces. I'll put them in the china cabinet that houses my other Metlox pieces, but in the meantime, they are here in my office where I can see them and enjoy them. 

Grey Metlox Poppytrail Circus Pony - At Last!

The search has come to an end! After years and years of looking, I finally found the two horses that I have wanted more than any others. They are very difficult to find, and it is only the second time that I have even seen them come up for sale. In fact, I wasn't sure that one of them actually existed - I'd heard rumors, but never could find pictures to prove its existence.

In 2016 I began saving up my money in the hopes that I would come across one or the other. (I never expected to find both, especially at the same time.) I knew that they would most likely be expensive so I wanted to be prepared.

Even with the money saved up and earmarked for these two pieces, I thought long and hard before I purchased them. My decision was helped along by the fact that I was offered an emergency vacancy in the alternative school and went back to teaching. Because of that, I had an extra financial cushion and I would not have to touch my savings.

So I took the plunge and at last, the small Metlox Poppytrail Circus Pony is in my collection.

Metlox Poppytrail Medium Circus Pony, $500, #684, eBay, 4/2019, Rick Widman, 3005 Wedge Ct., Matthews, NC 28104

When the box arrived, I let it sit for a day - I just could not believe that I had finally found my most wanted pieces.

While both pieces stand very well, I have them temporarily lying on bubble wrap. I'll put them in the upstairs china cabinet soon, but in the meantime, I like having them in my office where I can look at them.

The white piece has two stickers - one on its flank and the other under its belly. The stickers are in terrific condition, especially considering their age.

I am still pinching myself that my dream has come true. Tomorrow I will talk about the other one, the one I only just discovered really did exist.

RubberNedz Circus Pony

Last August Catriona Harris posted a photo of her new RubberNedz Circus Pony from Donna Chaney.

I gasped in amazement - I had no idea that Donna was making RubberNedz into circus ponies! Immediately I contacted Donna and inquired about having her make one for me.

Mine arrived yesterday and I am over the moon about him.

 RubberNedz Circus Pony on the Talus mold, ($187.50/148 pounds.)

I asked her to do a bay with four varied socks, a white blaze with pink and white on the nose, and orange feathers and I got everything I asked for. There are even two orange crystals for bridle rosettes!

At that cost, this will likely be my only RubberNedz, but I sure do like him.

Vintage Fisher Price Circus Pony

I have expanded my search for circus ponies into toys, and just recently got this fun piece off eBay.

 Fisher Price Junior Circus Replacement Part Horse, #902, 1963, $2.50, eBay, Bob Martin, 9/2018.

(Photos by eBay seller 215lb.)

It's been played with and loved, but I am fine with that. I ALWAYS wanted one of those Fisher Price Circus Wagons, but I never got one. Even as a parent for my own children - with such a large family, money was too tight, and since they were not into circus wagons and ponies, I bought them other things.

This little guy can now enjoy being part of a collection and take his place among my other circus pony items.

HR Circus Pony - Arrives Broken

I got this new Circus Pony from another hobbyist in the mail Friday.

HR Head Up Circus Pony, A-266, 1980-1983, $45 ppd, Jeanne Nandell McCall, Monticello, IA.

Sadly, it arrived broken.

 Actually, I wasn't surprised.

 As I opened the inside box and saw how tightly the foam was squished around the piece, I feared the worst. And I was right - between the bubble wrap and the foam, the pressure had snapped the leg. The outside box was in perfect shape, so it was not the PO's fault.

I know the seller meant well and tried her best. Nonetheless, I am still disappointed. And it is ironic that she was worried about how I would pack a clinky that I was going to send her - she even gave me advice on how to pack it. (And it arrived without incident.)

I am not angry, but I am sad. Yet these things happen, and I do already have this piece in my collection - I bought another one because, well, circus ponies!!

Gift From a Long Time Friend

Kathy Bateman and I go waaaaaaaay back. We have been friends for twenty-five years (at least) and met when I was living in Illinois. A fellow hobbyist, we played ponies together, went to BreyerFest and live shows, and put on Lincoln Land Live.

She is now in Tennessee and I am in Indiana, but that friendship remains strong. Saturday I received a surprise package in the mail from her.

 Puzzled, I opened it, and found an envelope on the top of a bunch of bubble wrap.

 Inside was a lovely card - she'd sent a retirement gift!

Kathy knows I love circus ponies, and she'd sent a Wade Whimsey.

Also included was a note that gives documentation as to what the piece is and where she found it. I love my new circus pony; even more, I love that it came from a dear friend who bought it in one of the antique shops we both used to haunt, and was part of her personal collection.

Thanks so much, Kats. This piece is very special to me and I will treasure it always not only because it is a circus pony, but because it came from one of my dearest friends.

Circus Rider Bridle Rosettes

I dislike circuses, yet I have a love of circus ponies. Go figure. And so, while searching for new pieces to add to my collection on eBay, I came across these:

Circus pony/rider bridle rosettes!

There were several bidders on them, and the price was high, so I watched them and thought for a couple of days. Finally, I put a bid in on eSnipe and won! The price was steep ($72) but I felt that I could recoup that in the future as they are very unique and beautiful.

I have ordered a book on collecting bridle rosettes. I don't plan to begin collecting them, although I have done some searches on eBay and found lots for sale. Plus, I have one bridle rosette from Oh Boy's bridle (my dad's circus pony) that I should dig out. (I think it's in my tack box at the barn.

These were bought from Fred Smith, 224 Woodchuck Dr., Ephrata, PA, 17522.

Irish Dresden Circus Pony

This unusual piece was added to my collection thanks to my friend, Susan Bensema Young. Knowing my love of circus ponies, she keeps an eye out for them and discovered this one on eBay. The price was almost $300, more than I felt it was worth, but after watching it for two months, I contacted the seller and made an offer. She countered, and the piece was mine! (Thanks, Sue!)

 Irish Dresden Circus Pony, $175, eBay, 2/2018, Paige Casey, 15311 Spruson St., Odessa, FL 33556.

 The Irish Dresden Company specializes in using fabrics that they fire onto their pieces. The tack and mane/tail decorations all were fabric at one time.

 The base is stamped with the company's logo and the name of the piece.

A close up of the stamp. Note that it is an "R" in a circle that the stamp from their Facebook page does not have.

 The logo from Facebook.

And, the crown is attached to the line drawn around "MV." (That stands for Muller Volkstedt.)

Another horsey piece of Irish Dresden that I found on the web - there are not many!

Information that I have found on the web:

Irish Dresden began with the late 19th century Germany artist Anton Muller, in the small town of Volkstedt, under the then banner Muller Volkstedt. Muller's skills with fine lace porcelain figures did not go unnoticed and his work quickly gained a reputation. Since his death in 1937 his family has kept up the tradition of pristine porcelain craftsmanship and kept the business alive, despite it having faced a rough history that includes the destruction of their factory during WWII, the deaths of Muller and his son, Herman, as well as the family being forced to leave their homes in what was then East Germany. The family tradition was saved by Johanna Saar, Herman's niece, her husband Oskar, and now daughter Sabina who settled in Ireland in 1962 and continued the business under the name Irish Dresden. Irish Dresden continues the family tradition to this day and its collection porcelain figures are now renown worldwide.

I am loving my most recent circus pony, and send many heartfelt thanks to a dear friend who was looking out for me!

Another Circus Pony

Another Circus Pony, and from Nancy Falzone to boot!

 Hagen Renaker Head Up Circus Pony, A-266, 1980-1983, $40, Nancy Falzone, 12/17

She only sold it because she broke it, but it's an easy fix. Plus, I am always glad to have some of Nancy's models join my collection!

Steha Circus Pony

Be still my heart, I found a Steha Circus Pony on eBay! I did not know Steha (from West Germany) had made a Circus Pony, but I had been looking at Stehas on eBay for years, hoping to find "Ross," the Steha that my friend, Bobbie Vance, owned when we were growing up. (They are pretty rare and rarely show up. They are also hard to find in good shape.)

Imagine my surprise when I was searching eBay and found this! (Photos from eBay ad.)

 Steha of West Germany Circus Pony, $200, 7/2017, KL, Seattle, Washington.

He arrived much cleaner than he was in the eBay ad. 

I am so excited, I can hardly stand it!!

BreyerFest 2006 Trixie

I made one purchase, ONE, at this year's BreyerFest.  But it's one that I was super happy to find! A circus pony!

Trixie, #711206, BreyerFest 2006 One Day Ticket Model, 3,050 made, $25, Puffthemagicdragon Stables/Concourse vendor, BreyerFest, 7/14/17.

Bone China Circus Pony

I saw this bone china circus pony (probably by Shiken) on eBay and made an offer for it. My offer was accepted, so home it came!

 Bone china Circus Pony with grey/green plume, $10, eBay/Angie Childers, St. Louis, MO, 3/2016/

It's my sixth HR knock-off circus pony, and all are different! I wonder just how many are out there, and hope to find more of them. Vancouver, WA

Freeman Leidy Circus Pony

I have watched this piece on eBay for months. It's been relisted for $40.24 several times; finally, the seller put a Buy It Now on it, and I submitted a lowball bid of $25. To my surprise, it was accepted without quibble.

(Pictures from eBay listing.)

 Freeman Leidy Circus Pony, $25, Barbara Harger, Estacada, Oregon, 10/2015

 It is far bigger than I anticipated; about the same size as a Breyer.

I am trying to find out more about the Freeman Leidy company. I have seen it called one of the California Potteries, and associated with the town of Laguna Beach. Another eBay listing for this piece dates it from 1944-1955.

I have also heard that there are three different circus ponies and a wagon for the set.

 Ed Alcorn has had these listed on eBay for over a year. He wants $250 for the pair!!

 An image pulled from Google Images shows a purple version with green ribbons.

Another picture from eBay shows the circus wagon that goes to the set.

I'd love to have all the pieces, but I'm a $25 sort of girl! We'll see.

Shiken HR Circus Pony Copy

Gayle Roller knows her stuff. (And she should; she has written many books on Hagen Renakers!)

But I wondered when she listed this piece on eBay. Yes, it had a Shiken sticker, and the right ear looks a smidge long, but other than that, it is a real fooler for the HR Head Up Circus Pony.

 Shiken Bone China HR Circus Pony copy, $11.19, eBay/Gayle Roller, 5/2015.

I have been buying up all the Japan Circus Ponies I can find - I love them despite that fact that theya re not HRs. Happy to add this one to my collection.

First Purchases of 2014

First up for the new year, a Hagen Renaker Circus pony with maroon/lavender harness.

 Hagen Renaker Circus Pony, A-266, $30, 1/2014, Lucy Kusluch, Springfield, TX.

I LOVE circus items, and I bought these Hagen Renaker imitations from Nancy Kelly. (Picture taken by Nancy; puppy not purchased.)

Begging Dog, Monkey, and Seal, Shiken Bone China, Japan, Circus Dog, $13/each, 1/2014, Nancy Kelly, DeWitt, MI.